I hate to say it, but I think your tree is definitely a goner. While I am no tree expert, I am a passionate amateur, so I have learned a few things. I am 100% certain that your tree is suffering from Dothistroma pini, otherwise known as Red Band Tip Blight. It is a fungal disease that can attack any tree, especially from age 30 on, but it especially attacks vulnerable trees. I think I read somewhere that Austrian Pines should be spaced 15 feet apart, but I can't find where I read that. At any rate, the middle tree looks extremely crowded from both sides, which is going to make it extremely vulnerable to disease. This probably explains why the other two appear to be doing alright. The reason I am so certain your tree has dothistroma is because of your extremely valuable and informative closeup of the needles. If you'll notice, the outer halves of the needles (the tips) are brown, but the inner halves (the bases) are still green. This is the unique hallmark of dothistroma. In addition, it typically starts from the bottom of the tree and works it way up. Considering how few green needles are left on your tree, it is probably more dead than alive at this point. Since it is so crowded out by the other two, I would just remove it. Otherwise the other two might become vulnerable as well from competition, not to mention the high possibility of infection from this extremely contagious disease. Also for this reason, you should educate yourself on the early symptoms of this disease and for diplodia so that you can hopefully nip disease in the bud before it takes over your other two trees, especially since they have been so close to the infected tree. It is possible to stop the disease if treated in time, but infection can be hard to detect until it is too late if you aren't vigilant. Also, try to remove the dead tree in dry, non-windy weather if at all possible because heat, rain, and wind are how the spores are spread. I have included some links to government and university sources about dothistroma so that you can learn about early symptoms, treatments, etc. There are plenty more such sites if you google "dothistroma." Good luck, and sorry about your middle tree. Laurel http://lancaster.unl.edu/factsheets/087.htm http://extension.missouri.edu/extensioninfonet/article.asp?id=1709 http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/node/81 http://urbanext.illinois.edu/ShrubSelector/detail_problem.cfm?PathogenID=58 http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/dothistroma/doth.htm http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?sub=688

that is.. was.. a weak crotch .... the brown is where two branches swayed in the wind.. and caused a festering wound .... you can google the term .... maybe add tree.. if you want to talk about trees.. lol ... that said.. in my world its a goner... besides the fact that ash are susceptible to emerald ash borer ... and if i have it 15 miles north of the OH border.. you have it in OH .... get rid of it.. and start over with a better tree ... i love my oaks.. and i could refer you to a place in mansfield for quite a selection ... within the next 30 days.. is prime planting time for z 5-6 .... ken

this post had me in tears when i read it earlier. I am that way about my quilting, absolutely NO desire. So I do know the feeling you get with your gardens. However, my gardens are a totally different story. I WANT to get out there sooooo badly. for the last hmm, six years, I have not been able to physically get the work done. I've finally been diagnosed with MS (18 mos ago), have had two surgeries on my neck do to herniated disks that compressed my spinal cord, and am this year FINALLY getting the energy up to get out there again. I'm starting with a clean slate, which is nice in many ways, but so daunting in other ways. I miss all my flowers so much though, that I will find a way, some way, to get them back again. I hope that you also find the desire to garden soon, the maintenance is enough to drive you bonkers when you don't want to be out there, but left alone, it's going to be horrendous to get motivated again. it takes no time for the weeds to notice lack of interest, and they take over like crazy then. wishing you all best of luck! sally

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